Bitly is an useful URL shortener that Ive utilized for several years. As a signed up user I can develop custom-made, shortened URLs that individuals can actually spell. I use these whenever I require to share a link to a Canva or Google Slides discussion since the default URLs provided by those services are always long and incoherent..

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Bitly is an useful URL shortener that Ive utilized for many years. There is an easy method to rapidly identify whats behind a Bitly URL without in fact clicking on the link. The trick is to merely include a “+” to the end of any Bitly URL. When you include the “+” the URL will reroute to Bitly rather of to whatever the initial URL was.

Not all Bitly users are utilizing them for excellent reasons. Some people use them to hide wicked links. There is a simple way to rapidly identify whats behind a Bitly URL without really clicking on the link. The trick is to simply add a “+” to the end of any Bitly URL. When you add the “+” the URL will redirect to Bitly instead of to whatever the initial URL was. That will then reveal you the Bitly page on which the shortened URL is hosted and will show you what the original link was..
You can attempt this trick with a URL that I recently shortened. Bit.ly/ THWTAPRIL will lead you directly to a copy of the slides that I used in my recent Intro to Teaching History With Technology webinar. Bit.ly/ THWTAPRIL+ will lead you to the Bitly page where you can see my original discussion URL and see when I created the reduced URL..
Watch this short video to see how you can utilize the “+” trick to learn whats hidden behind a Bitly link..

Heres a video introduction of how to see whats behind a TinyURL without actually clicking the link.

As I do every year, Im taking today as a break from releasing new post and will be republishing a few of the most popular posts of the year. Heres one from April.

If you desire to try this with a TinyURL, tinyurl.com/emkns9a8 will lead you to the page for the Practical Ed Tech Virtual Summer Camp, however adding a “+” at the end of that TinyURL will take you to the page where you can see the original link without clicking on it.

Applications for Education.
Building excellent digital citizenship and cyber safety abilities is something that all of us should be helping our trainees do. Showing them little suggestions like this one to avoid clicking on suspicious links is among the manner ins which we can assist our students construct their digital citizenship and cyber security skills.